AURANGABAD, MAHARASHTRA

:''For other uses, see Aurangabad.''

'Aurangabad' ( (औरंगाबाद) from Persian اورنگ‌آباد meaning "Built by the Throne", named after Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb) is a city in Maharashtra, India. The city is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historical monuments including Ajanta and Ellora World heritage sites. This district center is the administrative headquarter of Aurangabad Division, or Marathwada region.

Contents

History

Geography

Economy

Administration and Politics

Education

Media and Communications

Entertainment

Transport

Tourist attractions

Monuments

Parks

Religious places

External links

History

There was a village named 'Kirki' (Khadki) where the city stands today. According to some historians, the city was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar. Malik Ambar was the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II of Ahmednagar, the then ruler of the Deccan (central parts of Southern India). It is widely believed that city took shape between 1604 and 1610 under Malik Ambar's rule. Initially, it was named Fatehpura (city of Victory), probably after Malik's son Fateh Khan.
In 1634, Aurangzeb was sent to Kirki as Governor of Deccan. In 1644, he moved to Agra to play an active role in Mughal politics.
In 1681, the city again became the residence of Aurangzeb, who had now become 'Mughal Emperor'. He used the city as a base for his campaigns to conquer the last remaining Deccan sultanates until his death in 1707 AD. The modern name of the city was probably taken during his period. Aurangzeb's tomb is situated at Khultabad, a small town near the city.

Geography

The location co-ordinates for Aurangabad are N 19° 53' 47" - E 75° 23' 54". It is located 512 meters above sea level. The city is surrounded by hills on all sides
'Temperatures :' Annual temperature in Aurangabad range from 9 to 40°C. The best time to visit Aurangabad is in the winter - October to February. The highest maximum temperature ever recorded at Aurangabad was 46°C (114°F) on 25 May 1905. The lowest record temperature was 2°C (36°F) on 2 February, 1911. [1]
'Rainfall :' Most of the rainfall occurs in the monsoons season (June to September). Rainfall in Aurangabad varies from 9.0 to 693 mm/month. Average annual rainfall is 725 mm.

Economy

There is ample evidence to believe that Aurangabad was developed as a trading hub four centuries ago. It lies on a major trade route that used to connect north-west India's sea and land ports to the Deccan region.
'Manufacturing'
The city was a major silk and cotton textile production center. A fine blend of silk with locally grown cotton was developed as Himroo textile. Much of the silk industry has eroded with times. Yet a few industrial units, like 'Standard Silk Mills', have been successful in keeping that tradition alive.
'Paithani' silk saris are made in small industries nearby and available in the city market. The name of this cloth is derived from Paithan town.
Aurangabad is the third most important manufacturing center in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune. Pharmaceuticals, steel recycling, auto parts manufacturing, and beverages production (soft drinks and beer in particular) are major industries.
The Shendra, Chikalthana and Waluj MIDC Industrial Areas are prominent industrial zones on the outskirts of the city. Major multinational groups that have set up manufacturing or processing plants in and around the city include :

★ Bajaj Auto Ltd. - automaker

★ Wipro- Electronics

★ Škoda India - automaker,

★ Siemens Ltd - engineering,

★ Videocon - consumer electronics and durables

★ Cosmo Films Limited - BOPP Films

★ Wockhardt Ltd - pharmaceuticals

★ Pepsi - beverages

★ United Spirits Ltd - Liquor

★ Fosters India-Liquor

★ Good Year-Tyre

★ NRB Bearing - Automobile

★ Johnson & Johnson-Health Care

★ Sterlite-Optic Fibre

★ Colgate & Pamolive

★ Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticlas Ltd - Pharmaceuticals

★ Garware polyester Ltd.
'Services'
'Tourism'
Aurangabad, with a large number of historical monuments in and around the city, is a major tourist center. India's top hotels chains including The taj group and the welcomegroup have their hotels in the city.
'Banking And Financial Services'
In the first decade of the 21st century, Aurangabad has seen a spurt in financial activities.Almost all public sector and private banks have opened their branches in Aurangabad. The Major Banks that have their brances include The Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Bank of India, SBI, ICICI bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, IDBI Bank
Almost all of India's top stocks trading and brokerage firms have their braches or representations in the city.

Administration and Politics

Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is the local civil body. It is divided in six zones.
'Major Areas of Aurangabad City'
1) Jubilee Park
2) Osmanpura
3) Roshan Gate
4) Begum Pura
5) Town Hall
6) Rauza Buagh
7) Himayat Buagh
8) Kat Kat Gate
9) Paithan Gate
10) Kirad Pura
11) Baiji Pura
12) Buddi Lane and Juna Bazar
13) Kadhkeshwar
14) CIDCO city Region
15) Garkheda
16) Jawahar Colony
17) Chikhaltana
18) Samarthnagar
19) Jyotinagar
20) Aurangpura & Nirala Bazaar
21) Shah Ganj
22) Cheli Pura
23) Lota Karanja
24) Moti Karanja
25) Gulmandi
26) Mondha
27) Saadat Nagar
28) Shah Bazar
29) Raja Bazar
30) Garkheda Parisar
31) Shah Noor Miyan Darghah
32) Shivaji Nagar
33) Satara Parisar
34) Bajaj Nagar & Waluj
35) Shendra MIDC
36) Pandharpur & Chitegaon MIDC
37) Kanchan Wadi
38) Mukund Wadi
39) Nakshatra Wadi
40) HUDCO & Harsul
Aurangabad contributes one seat to the Lok Sabha. The seat is currently held by Mr. Chandrakant Khaire, MP of the Shiv Sena party.
And Two seats for Assembly, Aurangabad West (Cogress I) and Aurangabad East (National Congress Party).
'Judiciary'
Aurangabad is a bench of the Bombay High Court.Which is situated on Jalna Road, Aurangabad.(Ref:more information look at High Courts of India, Bombay High Court)
There is also District and Sesions Court At Aurangabad.There is also Civil Judge Junior Division (CJSD) & CJ senior Division(CJSD).The Aurangabad District & sessions Court, is more than 100 years old.

Education

Since India's independence, Aurangabad is a major learning center of central Maharashtra. Aurangabad is the headquarter of Government-funded 'Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University' BAMU. It caters to government aided and recognized colleges in four districts. City has other private Universities and Autonomous institutions.
The city has more than one institution of higher education in Engineering, Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Education faculties Each. In first part of 21st century, many good schools have come up.
Aurangabad now has five engineering colleges, namely

[1] Govt. Engineering College,(Now Autonomous Institute) GECA

[2] Marathwada Institute of Technology (MIT)MIT

[3] PES Engineering College

[4] Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College (JNEC) JNEC

[5] Govt Polytechnic College. GP

The medical colleges in the city are Government Medical College, MGM Medical College, Govt. Dental College, C.S.M.S. Ayurvedic & Dental College, Bhagwan College of Homeopathy, D.K.M.M College of Homeopathy, Foster's Homeopathy College.

Media and Communications

'Newspapers:' Major Marathi newspapers published in Aurangabad include Sakaal, Lokmat, Punya Nagari, Saamana and Loksatta. Lokmat Times is the only English newspaper published in the city. Pune city editions of Newspapers available include - The Indian Express, Times of India, The Business Standard, The Economic Times, The Financial Times.
'News Websites:' Major English news portals from Aurangabad is worldnewseveryday.com with franchisee network in 1500 indian cities.
'Television:' Doordarshan's Sahyadri and DD News Territorial Television channels are available in Aurangabad. Satellite television services are available through Doordarshan Direct Plus, Dish TV and Tata Sky. One private Cable network MCN,in pact with Hathway, provide cable TV services.
'Radio:' City has Three FM radio stations. All India Radio has one FM station in the city, operating at 101.7 MHz. The same feed is available in AM at 1521 kHz. Gyaanvani is FM Fascility dedicated to University learning and distance education. The government have provided licenses to 3 other private FM radio operators for territorial broadcasts. Radio Mirchi is the privately operated station that operates on 98.3 MHz.
Private satellite radio WorldSpace, are also available.
'Telephony and Internet:' Telephony services are provided by service providers like Airtel, Idea cellular, Hutch, Reliance communications, Tata Indicom and the Government controlled BSNL. BSNL, Reliance, Tata Indicom and sify (Satyam infoway) provide end user internet facility.

Entertainment

Aurangabad has two multiplexes and a large number of Movie theaters. These multiplexes are situated in CIDCO region of the city.Both, 'PVR Cinemas' and 'Fame Cinemas' are the three screen multiplexes in the city.
The city has two public Auditoria : 1) Sant Eknath Rangamandir and 2)Tapadia Natya Mandir. Besides there are many auditoria run by private entities

Transport

Aurangabad has a privately operated intra-city bus service, AMT, owned by Aurangabad Municipal Corporation.'Maharashtra state road transport' buses provides service to all parts of state from Aurangabad,alnogwith private bus operators
'Chikalthana airport' is the domestic airport of Aurangabad. The nearest international airports are Mumbai and Pune. Indian, Jet Airways and Air Deccan have regular flights from Mumbai to Aurangabad.
The city has direct rail links to New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad.

Tourist attractions

Besides world heritage monuments of Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, city also offers the Aurangabad Caves, Pithalkhora Caves, Paithan, Daulatabad (Deogiri Fort) and Bibi-Ka-Maqbara as the district is rich in monuments, historical and religious, of National importance. Hence, it deserves the epithet as Tourist District of India.

Monuments

★ Ajanta stone engraved sculpture and paintings Caves. A world heritage monument.

★ Ajanta Visitor Center Under construction, Located at T Junction Fardapur: Designed as a tribute to the Ajanta Caves, AVC would consist of four cave replicas (1,2,16 1nd 17). Static, electronic and interactive museums would orient, guide and create a virtually real experience for the visitors to understand the original paintings and stories. Ambience of the Center (almost hidden in the rocky terrain) would simulate a sense of discovery to the visitors, especially children.

★ Ellora stone engraved sculptures. A world heritage monument.

★ Daulatabad Fort

★ The Bibi Ka Maqbara. A replica of the Taj Mahal.

★ Aurangabad Caves (Buddhist)

★ Panchakki, or The Water Mill complex

★ Khuldabad the resting place of Aurangzeb.

★ Gates (Darwajas) - During Mughal times, Aurangabad had 4 main and 9 subordinate gates (''darwajas'') along its periphery, famous among them being the Paithan Gate and Roshan Gate.

Parks

★ Salim Ali Lake at Dilli Gate named after Dr. Salim Ali

★ Mhaismal hills

★ Lonar - a natural lake formed by meteorite impact (Near Mehekar) - 150 km from Aurangabad

★ Sant Dnyaneshwar garden, Paithan

★ Jayakwadi dam bird sanctuary: home for migratory birds from Siberia

★ Gautala wildlife park and bird sanctury

★ Siddarth Garden

Religious places

★ Grishneshwar A Hindu shiva Temple. One of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines.

External links

★ Official Site of Aurangabad District

★ Aurangabad Municipal Corporation

★ Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University

★ Institute of Engineering and Technology, Aurangabad

★ Marathwada Institute of Technologyaurangabad

★